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Polymer Clay and Metallic Leafing Accordion Book 

By Janine La Luz
Trailblazers
Paper Arts & Multi Media Team Designer  

Supplies:

• Lavender Polymer Clay (Sculpey)
• Toaster Oven * or Hot Pot (Ranger)
• Non-stick work surface (Ranger)
• Tissue blade (Sculpey)
• Pasta machine*
• Post it Notes
• Cookie cutters* or clay cutter shapes (Amaco)
• Texture plates (Amaco)
• Variegated Red Metallic Leafing (Mona Lisa)
• Metallic Leafing Pen (Krylon)
• Pearl Ex powders (Jacquard)
• Soft brush
• 3x12 inch sheet of purple cardstock (Bazzill)
• Bone folder
• Glue stick 

*The supplies marked with an asterisk must be clay-dedicated only. Do not use the same tools for clay and food.

Instructions:

1.    Take one block of lavender polymer clay and condition it by running the clay through your pasta machine at setting 3 several times.

2.    Lay your sheet of clay on your non-stick surface and lay a post it note on top of the clay. Using the post it note as a template, cut out a 3”x3” square of clay with your tissue blade by slicing along the edges of the post it note.

3.    Repeat step 2 to create the back cover.

4.    Cut a rectangular opening in the front cover using a shape or cookie cutter. Set the piece of clay you have cut out from the cover aside.

5.    Place a texture sheet on top of your front cover. Add light texture to the cover by gently burnishing the back of the texture plate with your finger. Do not press too hard or you will distort the shape of your front cover.

6.    Using a soft brush, apply two to three colors of Pearl Ex Powder to the front cover.

7.    Carefully apply leafing to the piece of clay that you set aside in step 4. Do this according to the manufacturer's instructions. With the Mona Lisa leafing, I simply cut out a small piece and laid it face down on top of the clay. Gently burnish with your finger and the leafing should adhere to the clay easily.

8.    Place the piece of polymer clay back into the opening from which it was cut. Gently burnish the edged of the clay to get the seams of the clay to stick together.

9.    Bake your front and back cover according to the directions on the polymer clay packaging.

10.    Once your covers have been baked and cooled, line the edges with the metallic pen.

11.    Take your 3x12 sheet of cardstock and fold it into a 4 part accordion fold. Glue the two ends into the inside covers. (Note: You may increase the length of your book by adding more strips of accordion paper and attaching with a simple folded paper hinge.)

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